Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
  • A47J27/00—Cooking-vessels
  • A47J27/21—Water-boiling vessels, e.g. kettles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
  • A47J27/00—Cooking-vessels
  • A47J27/21—Water-boiling vessels, e.g. kettles
  • A47J27/21008—Water-boiling vessels, e.g. kettles electrically heated
  • A47J27/2105—Water-boiling vessels, e.g. kettles electrically heated of the cordless type, i.e. whereby the water vessel can be plugged into an electrically-powered base element
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
  • A47J27/00—Cooking-vessels
  • A47J27/21—Water-boiling vessels, e.g. kettles
  • A47J27/21166—Constructional details or accessories
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
  • A47J36/00—Parts, details or accessories of cooking-vessels
  • A47J36/06—Lids or covers for cooking-vessels
  • A47J36/10—Lid-locking devices

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an arrangement comprising a vessel including means to prevent unintended spill of liquid stored in the vessel.
• the present invention further relates to a method for preventing
• the present invention still further relates to a storage medium comprising a program that when executed by a programmable device performs the steps of this method.
• JP2008-061795 discloses an electric cooker having a lid with a controllable lock.
• An external signal source such as an IC tag, is used to control the controllable lock.
• the controllable lock remains closed, so that it can be prevented that children inadvertently spill hot water and therewith would injure themselves.
• the known arrangement improves safety, it may happen that the IC tag owner temporarily is not capable of properly holding the vessel due to health problems. Also the known arrangement involves a risk that small children get hold of the IC tag and therewith obtain inadvertent control over the arrangement.
• an arrangement comprising a vessel for holding a liquid.
• the arrangement further comprises at least one of a controllable lock to controllably enable a release of said vessel from a support and a controllable lock to controllably enable opening of said vessel.
• the arrangement further comprises a controller to control the at least one controllable lock.
• the arrangement is provided with a sensor unit including at least one sensor to sense a mechanical interaction occurring when the vessel is gripped and to issue a sense signal that is indicative for said mechanical interaction.
• the controller controls the at least one controllable lock dependent on the sense signal and on one or more safety conditions.
• the arrangement according to the present invention provides for an improved safety of possible users, as its operation is determined by the actual condition of the user that handles the vessel.
• the at least one sensor is arranged in a handle for carrying the vessel and the at least one sensor is arranged to measure a contact area between a users hand and the handle, wherein the sense signal is indicative for a size of said contact area, wherein the one or more safety conditions include a first threshold value and wherein the controller prevents unlocking of the controllable lock, therewith disabling release of said vessel from said support, if said indicated size is less than the first threshold value.
• the at least one sensor is arranged in a handle for carrying the vessel and the at least one sensor is arranged to measure a magnitude of force exerted by a users hand on the handle, wherein the sense signal is indicative for the magnitude of said force, wherein the one or more safety conditions include a second threshold value and wherein the controller prevents unlocking of the controllable lock, therewith disabling release of said vessel from said support, if said indicated magnitude is less than the second threshold value. Therewith it is prevented that a user releases the vessel from its support if s/he does not firmly hold the vessel.
• the vessel may be provided with two or more handles, each provided with at least one contact sensor.
• the controller in that case prevents unlocking if it is not confirmed that the vessel is reliably held at each of those handles.
• the vessel may for example have two such handles, so that the user needs both hands to release the vessel form a support or to poor a liquid with the vessel.
• a vessel may be provided with four such handles, so that it has to be hold by two persons using both hands.
• the at least one sensor is arranged to measure an amount of vibration, wherein the sense signal is indicative for amount of vibration wherein the one or more safety conditions include a third threshold value and wherein the controller prevents unlocking of the controllable lock, therewith disabling release of said vessel from said support if said indicated amount exceeds the third threshold value. Therewith release of the vessel from the support is disabled if the person attempting to hold the vessel has an amount of tremor that would likely result in an unintended spill of liquid from the vessel if it were released from its support.
• the at least one sensor is arranged to measure a magnitude of a force aiming to remove the vessel from the support, wherein the sense signal is indicative for the magnitude of said force wherein the one or more safety conditions include a fourth threshold value and wherein the controller prevents unlocking of the controllable lock, therewith disabling release of said vessel from said support if said indicated magnitude is less than the fourth threshold value. Therewith the controller disables release of the vessel from the support if it appears that the person aiming to lift the vessel from the support has insufficient strength to stably hold the vessel.
• the one or more safety conditions include a fifth threshold value greater than said fourth threshold value, wherein the controller prevents unlocking of the controllable lock, therewith disabling release of said vessel from said support if said indicated magnitude exceeds the exceeds the fifth threshold value. Therewith it is prevented that a user releases the vessel from its support with excessive force.
• the arrangement may include two or more of a contact area sensor, a grip force sensor and a tremor sensor, and the controller may prevent a release until each of the safety conditions is met.
• the controller does not enable unlocking of the controllable lock, until the one or more safety conditions are met during a predetermined consecutive minimum amount of time. As this allows for a more reliable assessment of the one or more safety conditions this renders it possible to apply less strict threshold values, so that despite this additional requirement the arrangement is more user friendly.
• An embodiment of the arrangement according to the present invention further comprises a sensor to measure a property of the liquid inside the vessel and to issue a sense signal indicative for a value of said measured property and wherein the controller is arranged to adapt at least one safety condition of said one or more safety conditions depending on the value of said measured property indicated by the sense signal.
• the sensor is for example a weight sensor and the measured property is a weight of the liquid inside the vessel. In this way safety conditions may be moderated if the vessel only contains a modest amount of liquid.
• a temperature sensor may be provided to measure a temperature of the liquid inside the vessel. If the temperature sensor senses that the temperature of the liquid is lower than a temperature threshold value, the safety conditions may be alleviated or overruled.
• the arrangement includes a facility for logging and/or analyzing the sense signals. In this way it can be determined if a health condition of the user improves or deteriorates and the safety conditions can be adapted accordingly. In urgent acute cases a health care professional may be alerted.
• the arrangement may be provided with a user identification unit for associating the sensed signals to an individual. In this way reliability of the logged data is increased.
• a feedback element may be provided that is coupled to the controller and arranged to indicate to the user whether the at least one safety condition is met. In this way the user is not surprised if the vessel can not be lifted or opened.
• the feedback element may additionally provide
• a method for preventing unintended spill of liquid from a vessel for holding a liquid vessel being part of an arrangement comprising at least one of a controllable lock to controllably enable a release of said vessel from a support, and a controllable lock to controllably enable opening of said vessel.
• the method comprises the following steps.
• a storage medium comprising a program that when executed by a programmable device performs the steps of this method.
• FIG. 1 shows an example of an arrangement wherein the present invention may suitably be applied.
• FIG. 2A, 2B schematically shows a first embodiment of an arrangement according to the present invention
• FIG. 3A, 3B schematically shows a second embodiment of an arrangement according to the present invention
• FIG. 4A, 4B schematically shows a third embodiment of an arrangement according to the present invention
• FIG. 5A, 5B schematically shows a fourth embodiment of an arrangement according to the present invention
• FIG. 6A, 6B schematically shows a fifth embodiment of an arrangement according to the present invention
• FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of a method according to the present invention
• FIG. 8 schematically shows a sixth embodiment of an arrangement according to the present invention.
• FIG. 1 shows an example of an arrangement wherein the present invention may suitably be applied.
• the arrangement is a water cooker including a vessel 1 and a support 2.
• FIG. 2A, 2B schematically shows an example of such an arrangement including improved safety means according to the present invention.
• FIG. 2A shows the vessel 1 comprising a liquid L and its support 2
• FIG. 2B schematically shows an embodiment of the control circuitry used therein.
• the arrangement comprises a controllable lock 3 to controllably enable a release of the vessel from the support 2.
• the lock 3 comprises mutually cooperating parts 3a, 3b, one of which is arranged in the vessel and one of which is arranged in the support.
• the parts grip 3a, 3b grip into each other to prevent that the vessel is released from the support.
• magnetic means may be used to prevent release.
• the magnetic means may include permanent magnetic parts that are sufficiently strong to prevent a release, and an electro magnetic element to temporarily compensate the permanent magnetic field so as to allow release.
• the support should provide for sufficient stability to support the vessel, and be capable to prevent that the vessel is moved if it is not released by the controllable lock 3.
• the support may be itself of sufficient weight to provide stability and prevent that the vessel is moved.
• the support may be part of a beverage preparation apparatus that is to too heavy to be moved unintentionally by the user.
• the support may be a part that is adhered or mounted to a carrier, e.g. a wall, a counter, or a fridge door.
• the arrangement further comprising a controller 5 to control the
• controllable lock 3 The arrangement is provided with a sensor unit 6 that includes at least one sensor to sense a mechanical interaction occurring when the vessel is gripped. In response thereto it issues a sense signal Ce that is indicative for the mechanical interaction. Dependent on the sense signal Ce and on one or more safety conditions the controller 5 controls the controllable lock 3 with a control signal C3.
• a sensor unit 6 is provided in a handle 11 for carrying the vessel 1.
• the sensor 6 is arranged to measure a contact area between a users hand and the handle 11.
• the sensor 6 may for example include a set of pressure sensitive elements arranged on a surface of the handle.
• a sense signal Ce is provided that is indicative for a size of the contact area.
• the sense signal may for example indicate which number of pressure sensitive elements senses a pressure.
• the one or more safety conditions include a first threshold value and the controller 5 prevents unlocking of the controllable lock if the indicated size is less than the first threshold value.
• the handle may be provided with 10 pressure sensitive elements and unlocking may be prevented if more than 3 of these 10 pressure sensitive elements do not sense a pressure. Therewith it is prevented that a user releases the vessel 1 from its support 2 if s/he does not properly hold the vessel.
• a feedback element 9 e.g. a light emitting element, is provided that is controlled by a signal C9 and that indicates the user whether the lock 3 is released or not.
• an audible signal or a sense signal may be used for this purpose, for example producing the sound of a clearly audible click or inducing a vibration in the handle upon unlocking the lock.
• the senor is arranged to measure a magnitude of force exerted by a users hand on the handle.
• the sensor 6 may comprise one or more pressure sensitive elements may be used that signal a magnitude of a force exerted thereon.
• the sense signal may indicate the average value or the minimum value of these forces as the magnitude.
• the one or more safety conditions include a second threshold value and the controller prevents unlocking of the controllable lock if the indicated magnitude is less than the second threshold value. Therewith it is prevented that a user releases the vessel 1 from its support 2 if s/he does not firmly hold the vessel.
• the senor 6 is arranged to measure an amount of vibration and the sense signal is indicative for amount of vibration.
• an acceleration sensor may be used.
• vibration/acceleration sensor is suitably arranged in the handle 11 it may also be arranged in another part of the vessel 1 or even in the support 2.
• the one or more safety conditions include a third threshold value and the controller prevents unlocking of the controllable lock if the indicated amount of vibration exceeds the third threshold value. Therewith release of the vessel from the support is disabled if the person attempting to hold the vessel has an amount of tremor that would likely result in an unintended spill of liquid from the vessel if it were released from its support.
• the arrangement may include two or more of a contact area sensor, a grip force sensor and a tremor sensor, and the controller may prevent a release until each of the safety conditions is met.
• the controller may include a timer to verify whether the one or more safety conditions are met during at least a minimum amount of time and prevent unlocking of the controllable lock until said one or more safety conditions are continuously met during that minimum amount of time.
• the arrangement includes a sensor 7 that is arranged to measure a magnitude of a force aiming to remove the vessel from the support.
• the sense signal C 7 provided by the sensor 7 is
• the one or more safety conditions include a fourth threshold value and the controller 5 prevents unlocking of the controllable lock if said indicated magnitude is less than the fourth threshold value. Therewith the controller disables release of the vessel 1 from the support 2 if it appears that the person aiming to lift the vessel 1 from the support has insufficient strength to stably hold the vessel 1.
• the sensor 7 may be combined with one or more other sensors, for example with a sensor 6 that measures a contact area, a grip force and/or a tremor and the controller 5 may disable releasing of the vessel if a combination of sense signals indicates that releasing the vessel would involve a safety risk.
• a timer means may be provided to determine if the required safety conditions are continuously met during a predetermined minimum amount of time.
• the one or more safety conditions may include a fifth threshold value greater than said fourth threshold value.
• the controller prevents unlocking of the controllable lock if the indicated magnitude exceeds the exceeds the fifth threshold value. Therewith it is prevented that a user release the vessel from its support with excessive force.
• a controllable lock 4 may be provided to controllably enable opening of the vessel 1.
• a sensor unit 6 that includes at least one sensor to sense a mechanical interaction occurring when the vessel is gripped and to issue a sense signal e that is indicative for the mechanical interaction.
• the controller issues a control signal C4 to control the controllable lock 4 dependent on the sense signal Ce and on one or more safety conditions.
• the safety conditions may include one or more of a minimum contact area, a minimum grip force, and a maximum amount of vibration as set out in detail for the embodiments shown in and described with reference to FIG.
• FIG. 4A, 4B only having a controllable lock 4 for controllably opening the vessel 1 has the advantage that a support for the vessel is not necessary. Therewith a support 2 (indicated by dotted lines) can be absent or of light-weight. Even if the situation occurs that a user turns out not to be capable of properly handling the vessel health risks are prevented as the lock for controllably opening the vessel is maintained into a locked state until it is detected that the vessel is reliably held.
• An additional orientation sensor may be provided, to provide a signal indicative of an orientation of the vessel, and the controller 5 may be arranged to control the lock 4 so as to keep the vessel closed if a tilt angle is detected that exceeds a value given a detected amount of liquid in the vessel 1. I.e. the larger the detected amount of liquid in the vessel the smaller the allowed tilt angle so that the liquid L cannot flow out of the vessel 1 at a too large rate, even if it is firmly held.
• FIG. 5A, 5B shows an alternative embodiment, wherein the arrangement includes both a controllable lock 3 to controllably enable a release of the vessel from a support 2 and a controllable lock 4 to controllably enable opening of the vessel 1.
• the controllable lock 3 prevents a user from improperly releasing the vessel 1 from the support.
• the controllable lock 4 prevents opening of the vessel 1, and therewith provides for a complementary measure to prevent injuries.
• the sudden release of control is a sign of a serious health problem a facility may be included that issues an alarm signal, for example to an alarm center to alert a caretaker.
• control signals C3, C4 for the controllable lock 3 to controllably enable a release of the vessel from its support 2 and for the controllable lock 4 to controllably enable opening of the vessel 1, may be identical. Alternatively, mutually different safety conditions may apply for issuing a control signal C3 enabling a release of the vessel from its support 2 and for issuing a control signal C4 enabling opening of the vessel 1.
• FIG. 6A, 6B illustrate a further embodiment.
• a sensor 8 is provided to measure a property of the liquid L inside the vessel 1 and to issue a sense signal Cs indicative for a value of the measured property.
• the controller is arranged to adapt at least one safety condition of the one or more safety conditions depending on the value of said measured property indicated by the sense signal Cs.
• the senor is a temperature sensor 8 and the measured property is a temperature inside the vessel 1.
• the at least one safety condition may be adapted in that the lock 3 is maintained in an unlocked state if the detected temperature of the liquid is less than a temperature threshold value, e.g. 35 degrees C.
• the sensor may be a weight sensor and the measured property is a weight of the liquid L inside the vessel 1.
• the sensor 7 in the embodiment of FIG. 3A, 3B may for example be arranged to sense this property. If the controller 5 checks a contact grip area as a safety condition, than the first threshold value for the contact area may be increased with an increasing value for the measured weight. Likewise, if the controller 5 checks a force exerted by a users hand, the second threshold value for that force may be increased with an increasing value for the measured weight. Similarly, if the controller 5 checks an amount of vibration then a third threshold value for the amount of vibration may be decreased with an increasing value for the measured weight. Likewise a fourth threshold value for a magnitude of a force aiming to lift the vessel may be increased with an increasing value for the measured weight.
• FIG. 7 illustrates a method for preventing unintended spill of liquid from a vessel 1 for holding a liquid L.
• the vessel is part of an arrangement that comprises a controllable lock 3 to controllably enable a release of the vessel from a support, and/or a controllable lock 4 to controllably enable opening of the vessel 1, for example according to one of the embodiments shown in FIG. 2A,2B up to FIG. 6A,6B.
• the method illustrated in FIG. 7 comprises the following steps.
• a temperature of a liquid L inside the vessel is measured.
• step S2 the controller 5 controls lock 3 and/or 4 in an unlocked mode so that the user can handle the vessel in an unrestricted manner. If it is determined that the temperature does (Y) exceed the threshold temperature the controller 5 by default sets lock 3 and/or 4 in an locked mode in step S3. In another embodiment the default state lock 3 and/or 4 may always be locked, regardless the
• the optional first step increases user friendliness while not jeopardizing user safety. It is noted however that in any case the lock 3 and/or 4 may have a locked fail safe state, for example realized by mechanical means so as to ensure that the lock 3 and/or 4 would be inadvertently released in case of a power failure for example.
• step S4 it determined whether or not the vessel is reliably held by a user. This determination may be based one or more of grip force detection, contact area detection and vibration detection as discussed above. If this is not the case (N) the lock(s) is/are not released. The detected lack of sufficient grip may be indicated to the user by a visual or audible signal in step S5. If it is detected (Y) that the user reliably holds the vessel, the method proceeds with step S6.
• step S6 it is detected whether or not the force exerted by the user aiming to lift the vessel from the support is sufficient to handle the vessel.
• this force may be determined whether or not this force is not too high. If the detected magnitude of the force complies (Y) with this/these safety
• step S7 the detected lack of sufficient lifting force or detected excessive lifting force may be indicated to the user in step S7, for example by a visual feedback, e.g. indicating how the currently allowed lifting force relates to the lower and optional upper bound for the lifting force.
• steps S4 and S6 may be absent. Although steps S6 is shown as a step subsequent to step S4, their order may be reversed. Alternatively, the verification of step S4 and of step S6 may take place simultaneously.
• FIG. 8 shows additional optional features in an arrangement according to the present invention. For clarity therein some parts which were described with reference to the previous FIGs are not shown thereon.
• the controller 5 receives sense signals Ce that is indicative for a mechanical interaction occurring when the vessel is gripped. Also the controller 5 may receive one or more additional signals, for example a sense signal C 7 indicative for an amount of liquid present in the vessel and/or a sense signal Cs indicative for a temperature of the liquid. In response thereto the controller 5 issues signals C3 and/or C4, to control a controllable lock to controllably enable a release of the vessel from a support and/or a controllable lock to controllably enable opening of said vessel. Also the controller 5 may use a control signal Cg to control visible, audible or sensible means to give feedback to the user about whether or not the one or more safety conditions are met and possibly informing the user what should change to meet the safety condition(s).
• a control signal Cg to control visible, audible or sensible means to give feedback to the user about whether or not the one or more safety conditions are met and possibly informing the user what should change to meet the safety condition(s).
• the arrangement may comprise a facility 54 for logging and/or analyzing the sense signals. Information exchange between the logging/analyzing facility 54 and the controller 5 takes place by communication signals C54.
• the logged content may for be examined by a healthcare profession to determine whether a health condition of the user is developing in a positive or negative sense.
• the logged content may also be used for adapting the one or more safety conditions. For example, if it appears from the logged data that the risk is too high that the user will be subject to an attack or stroke, the controller may strengthen the safety requirements to be met or even set the lock(s) into a locked state until a reset takes place.
• the controller is further coupled to a transceiver 52 and capable of exchanging communication signals C52 therewith. In case it appears from an analysis of the sense signals that the health condition of the user is critical, this may be immediately reported to the health care professional. Alternatively or in addition the healthcare professional may inspect the logged contents via this transceiver at his/her own volition.
• the arrangement may additionally include a user identification unit 53 to associating the sensed signals e to the individual using the arrangement.
• the user identification unit 53 may determine the identity of the user from biometric data, e.g. by detection of the users fingerprints where the handle is gripped, or by recognizing patterns in a heart rate signal.
• the user identification unit 53 signals the controller by communication signals C53.
• the controller can selectively associate the sensed signals Ce with a respective user. Therewith the logged data is more reliable and an analysis thereof can provide a more accurate diagnosis of the individual.
• the controller 5 may be coupled to a body coupled communication (BCC) transceiver 51 and capable of exchanging communication signals C51 therewith.
• BCC body coupled communication
• the controller may for example recognize the user's identity by body coupled communication with an identity card worn by the user.
• the elements listed in the claims are meant to include any hardware (such as separate or integrated circuits or electronic elements) or software (such as programs or parts of programs) which reproduce in operation or are designed to reproduce a specified function, be it solely or in conjunction with other functions, be it in isolation or in co-operation with other elements.
• the invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the apparatus claim enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware.
• 'Computer program product' is to be understood to mean any software product stored on a computer-readable medium, such as a floppy disk,
• first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, modules and/or units, these elements, components, modules and/or units should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, module and/or unit from another element, component, module and/or unit. Thus, a first element, component, module and/or unit discussed herein could be termed a second element, component, module and/or unit without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Emergency Alarm Devices (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
• External Artificial Organs (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
• Cookers (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

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• 2015
  • 2015-06-08 MX MX2016000715A patent/MX2016000715A/es unknown
  • 2015-06-08 US US14/908,393 patent/US20170135513A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2015-06-08 WO PCT/EP2015/062707 patent/WO2015189148A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2015-06-08 EP EP15730709.1A patent/EP3001802B1/en not_active Not-in-force
  • 2015-06-08 JP JP2016515936A patent/JP2016525382A/ja active Pending
  • 2015-06-08 CN CN201580001360.6A patent/CN105658119B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2015-06-08 RU RU2016105237A patent/RU2016105237A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation

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